Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's margins are down in matchups with possible 2016
Republican presidential candidates in three critical swing states, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania,
and in no state do voters say she's honest and trustworthy, but she still runs best overall of any
candidate, according to a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released today.

The closest contests are in Florida, where former Gov. Jeb Bush gets 45 percent to
Clinton's 42 percent, and Pennsylvania, where U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky gets 45 percent
to Clinton's 44 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.
The Swing State Poll focuses on Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania because since 1960 no
candidate has won the presidential race without taking at least two of these three states.

Clinton's favorability rating is down in each state, but she still does better than
Republican contenders, except for Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida.

Matchups between Clinton and her closest Republican opponent in each state show:

Florida: Bush at 45 percent to Clinton's 42 percent;

Ohio: Clinton over Paul 46 - 41 percent;

Pennsylvania: Paul at 45 percent to 44 percent for Clinton.

"The good news for Hillary Clinton is that the e-mail controversy has not done huge
violence to her presidential chances. But the matter is taking a toll on the former secretary of
state's public image," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll.

"On the plus side, Secretary Clinton is considered a strong leader - a key characteristic
for voters when picking a president, more so than her leading, but lesser-known, potential GOP
opponents," Brown said. "But about half the voters in all three states question her honesty and
trustworthiness.

"Majorities in each state think Clinton still has questions to answer about her e-mails.
Voters in each state are evenly divided on whether Congressional hearings are warranted
although a majority thinks such a hearing would be politically motivated rather than justified."

The gender gap remains wide as Clinton leads among women in every contest, by
margins of 7 percentage points to 28 percentage points. Her margins among men range from a 3
percentage point lead to a 23-point deficit.

Florida

While Clinton remains in a see-saw battle with Bush and is in a tight race with either Sen.
Rubio or Sen. Paul, she leads other Republicans, but her leads are down from a February 3
Quinnipiac University poll:

26 - 20 percent for Walker, with 53 percent who don't know enough about him to form
an opinion;

Negative 24 - 31 percent for Cruz.

A total of 51 percent of Florida voters say Clinton's e-mail problems are "very
important" or "somewhat important' in their vote for president, and 38 percent say they are less
likely to vote for her because of this issue, while 56 percent say it won't affect their vote.

But voters say 54 - 41 percent that a Congressional investigation into Clinton's e-mails is
politically motivated, rather than justified.

"Talk about well-exposed! Secretary Clinton has virtually 100 percent name recognition
in the Sunshine state, as 95 percent of Floridians have an opinion about her favorably or
unfavorably. That means changing voters' preferences will be difficult," Brown said.

Ohio

While margins are smaller than last month, Clinton leads all Republicans in Ohio:

"Something for Secretary Clinton's team to worry about. Thirty-six percent of
independent voters in the key state of Ohio say they are less likely to vote for her because of the
e-mail controversy," Brown said.

Pennsylvania

Paul gets 45 percent in Pennsylvania to Clinton's 44 percent, compared to a 53 - 34
percent Clinton lead February 3. She tops other Republicans by smaller leads than last month.

Pennsylvania voters say 52 - 47 percent that Clinton's e-mail problems are important in
their vote for president, and 41 percent say they are less likely to vote for her because of this
issue, while 54 percent say it won't affect their vote.

"A red flag in blue state Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton, seemingly invincible before the
e-mail scandal, ends up tied with Rand Paul," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the
Quinnipiac University Poll.

From March 17 - 28 Quinnipiac University surveyed:

1,087 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent;

1,077 Ohio voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent;

1,036 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

3. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Chris Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote?

23. Would you say that - Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 41% 47% 44%
No 50 46 49
DK/NA 9 7 7

24. Would you say that - Jeb Bush is honest and trustworthy or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 54% 42% 45%
No 35 34 36
DK/NA 11 24 20

25. Would you say that - Scott Walker is honest and trustworthy or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 32% 30% 32%
No 24 22 22
DK/NA 44 48 46

26. Would you say that - Hillary Clinton has strong leadership qualities or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 62% 66% 62%
No 35 31 35
DK/NA 3 3 2

27. Would you say that - Jeb Bush has strong leadership qualities or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 65% 49% 52%
No 27 32 31
DK/NA 8 19 16

28. Would you say that - Scott Walker has strong leadership qualities or not?

FL OH PA
Yes 36% 34% 36%
No 24 21 19
DK/NA 40 45 45

29. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton handled her job as Secretary of State?

FL OH PA
Approve 52% 55% 53%
Disapprove 44 39 44
DK/NA 4 6 4

30. As you may know, Hillary Clinton used a personal email address to conduct government business while working as Secretary of State. How important is this issue to your vote for President in the 2016 general election; very important, somewhat important, not so important, or not important at all?

FL OH PA
Very important 33% 30% 33%
Somewhat important 18 21 19
Not so important 17 16 19
Not important at all 30 33 28
DK/NA 2 1 1

31. If Hillary Clinton runs for President in 2016, does her using a personal email address to conduct government business while working as Secretary of State make you more likely to vote for her in the general election, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?